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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. FISCHER.

MUSICAL TOP.

No. 407,521. Patented July 23, 1889.

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MUSICAL TOP.

No. 407,521. Patented July 23, 1889.

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N, PETERS, Pholn-Lilhograph UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORG FISCHER, OF NUREMBERG, BAVARIA, GERMANY.

MUSICAL TOP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 107,521, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed August 29, 1888. Serial No. 284,067. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG FIsoIIEE, a subject of the King of Bavaria, residing at Nuremberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Tops, of which the following is a clear and exactspecification.

My invention of improvements in musical tops relates to a combination, by means of which the reeds of a reed-plate are acted on alternately by air through the revolution of the top. The reed-plate is fastened to the top and revolves with it. On the drivingshaft of the covering-plate of the reed-plate are fastened wings or sails, and situated within the top itself. These wings revolve or turn round the rotating axle of the top, and when the top is spun or rotated they do not revolve so fast as the top itself, on account of the resistance of the air, and they serve as a fly. This has the same effect as if the covering-plate, which has an opening corresponding to the size of one reed, were held stationary and the reed-plate revolved. the reeds being alternately brought under the opening in the covering-plate. As the top revolves, a current of air is forced up through the reedplate, emit-ting musical sounds.

In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, and in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of my improved musical top. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the mechanism for working the covering-plate. Fig. 3 shows a View of the reed-plate from the under side.

The top has a bottom U, to which the musical work and driving-gear are fitted, and to which is also fitted a heavy ring to facilitate spinning. Into this ring uf are screwed the bars or ribs t' 'i, which connect the bottom plate u to the head 10, in which the handle to fits when drawing the cord oif. In the bottom half is fastened the reed-plate q, having reeds I2 2 on its under side. On the top side of the reed-plate q is a covering-plate p, fitted with a hole 8. On the plate 19 is fitted an intermediate cog-wheel a, which revolves on the pin 25, which is fastened to the plate 1), revolving with it and carrying the wheel 71 round. The wheel a gears into the pinion m and cogged ring r. On the vertical shaft a are the wings f f, which, catching on the air, offer a large resistance to the revolution of the shaft a. On the bottom of the top is a loose point I), which is held from falling out by the head 1).

0c is a guide for the axle a.

The working of the top is as follows: A piece of string being wound round the part w in the well-known manner, and the top held in a vertical position, with the point I) resting on a table or on the ground, the string is pulled violently away, as in the usual manner of spinning tops. The top is thus made to revolve rapidly and the wings f f with it, but the air prevents wings f f revolving as rapidly as the top itself. The reed-plate q is carried round with the top, being fastened to it, and the plate 19 does not revolve so quickly on account of the resistance of the air on the wings f f, and consequently the reeds z 2 pass the hole in the covering-plate p.

I use the gearing m n r in. order to give the covering-plate p a still slower 1r otion.

The rapid revolution of the top causes a current of air through the holes 0 0, which, rising, parts the reeds z z, and, passing through the hole 8, emits a musical sound.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. In tune-playin g tops, the combination of the lower body U, having the holes 0 o, reedplate q, covering-plate 19, having the hole 8, point I), wings f f, axle a with the head w, and wires 2' t', for the purpose as described.

2. In tune-playing tops, the combination of the under body U, head w, wires 1' 1', point I), reed-plate q, covering-plate p, with the wings ff, axle a, having the pinion m, cog-wheel n, cogged ring 4*, and guide so, for the purpose as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

I GEORG FISCHER.

\Vitnesses:

THEODOR MULLER, AUGUST IVIEIER. 

